DAVID CERNA-PILGRIMAGE AND CIVILIZATION OF THE TOLTECS. 63 
the established statutes in order to entrust the government into the hands 
of Xiuhtlaltzin. The lawful heir to the throne, Tecpancaltzin, not only 
consented to conform with the wishes of the people, but promised on his 
part the most submissive obedience as a dutiful son and a loyal subject. 
There being no dissension, the distinguished widow, in 1038, took charge 
of the government as the first Queen of the Toltecs. Her reign, which 
only lasted four years, owing to the premature death of the sovereign, 
was an era of peace and prosperity. 
During the latter part of these periods of peaceful and progressive 
government, the imposing pyramid of Cholula was built. This teocalli 
(house of God) which was dedicated to Quetzalcoatl , the god of the air, 
was so far the greatest addition to the numerous works of art already in 
existence throughout the kingdom. 
On the death of Queen Xiuhtlaltzin, occurring in 1042, her son Tec¬ 
pancaltzin, the rightful heir, was elevated to the throne. The new mon¬ 
arch followed closely the great path of progress and public good marked 
out by his worthy predecessors, and soon gave proofs of his ability as a 
ruler. But it was only during the first period of his eventful reign that 
the nation continued on its onward march of prosperity. Subsequent 
events, in which the failings, the weakness of the king, manifested them¬ 
selves to a degree shocking alike to private and public morals, marked 
the beginning of the decline, final fall, and destruction of a great mon¬ 
archy . 
During the reign of Tecpancaltzin the beautiful legend of the discovery 
of Pulque , the Mexican national beverage, appears to have been invented. 
Papantzin , kindred to the king, had been able to extract from the maguey 
(' metl) or century plant (Agave americana ), a certain liquid said to have 
been identical with the one known at present as pulque. Papantzin com¬ 
municated to his daughter Xochitl (flower) the secret, and both resolved 
to make the discovery known to the king. They did so, but Tecpan¬ 
caltzin, more than with the new liquor, was taken with the surpassing 
beauty of the dark-eyed Xochitl. He became desperately and passionately 
enamored of the Indian maiden. Forgetting his high social position, his 
wife, his own dignity, and laying aside all scruples and moral principles, 
the monarch managed to abduct the innocent girl, and placed her in pri¬ 
vate apartments of the palace. Xochitl, in the course of time, intoxi¬ 
cated also with a strong love for the king, at last yielded to his entreaties, 
allowing herself to become the victim of a fiery and disastrous passion. 
As a result of these illicit relations there was born unto them a child. 
To it the name of Meconetzin was given, the word meaning “son of the 
metl” or maguey plant. 
The queen consort soon afterward died of grief, overcome by the in¬ 
fidelity of her royal husband. As there was no legitimate heir to the 
